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National Geographic : 1925 Jun
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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE Photograph by Harry V. IIarlan HORSES AT REST UNDER A FIG TREE The wild fig tree flourishes in many parts of Abyssinia. Its fruit, however, is dry and sour and is relished only by birds and monkeys. The natives do not enjoy fruits to any extent and take no pains to cultivate them; in fact, near the capital, fruits and vegetables are rarely seen, except in the private gardens of Europeans. With the field glass toward the hills of Harar we could see the smoke of a train still a day's journey from Addis Ababa. I visited the two churches at Ankober. The first was quite new, the decorations being unfinished at the time. The typical church building of Abyssinia is circular, but this one was a many-sided affair. In all churches of this type the central part of the building is occupied by a second circular structure which contains many sacred objects and books. During services the priests perform their cere monies inside this inner structure. The public is admitted only to the corridor which encircles it. The floor of the corri dor is usually covered with a sweet scented grass, fragrant even when dried. This building doubtless superseded a more ancient one, as two kings were buried within a few yards of it. The second church, on the other side of Ankober Hill, was one of the most interesting that I found in all Ethiopia. It was probably 8o or Ioo years old, cir cular in form, and decorated in the most gaudy of modern Ethiopian paintings. The outer wall of the inner sanctuary was covered with a multitude of paintings representing Biblical scenes for the most 632
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